Process of distilling oils



Feb. 23, 1937. A. KNUDSEN PROCESS OF DISTILLING OILS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 13, 1933 /nvent0/.-

ALFRED KNUDSEN 7 7M 9 fimw Feb. 23, 1937. A. KNUDSEN PROCESS OF DISTILLING OILS Original Filed Sept. 15, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I!!! /8\o I? w 7 P I ifikllii.

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ALFRED KNUDSEH ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1937. A. KNUDSEN PROCESS OF DISTILLING OILS Original Filed Sept. 13, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 b WE HUGS.

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ALFRED KH'UDSEE By I ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1937, A. KNUDSEN 2,072,039

PROCESS OF DISTILLING OILS Original Filed Sept. 13, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lnventor:

AhF'RED KNUDSEN BY Q Bv z w 1 z w m 2 g gy IIIIIIIIIIIIII/III/IAQ m M w :LTTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1937. A. KNUDSEN 2,072,039

PROCESS OF DISTILLING OILS Original Filed Sept. 13, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 male/flop:

ALFRED KNUDSEN' By WW9 W ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Divided and this app c on December 7, 1934, Serial No. 756,607. In Germany September 22, 1932 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to the distillation of oil-containing materials and'this application is a division of my co-pending application filed September 13, 1933, for Distillation of 5 oil, now U. S. Patent Number 2,006,273.

In the distillation of crude oil, fuel oil and the like to coke, the oil-containing substances are normally subjected to direct heating in iron containers, so that the volatile'oils are vaporized while the residues are deposited in the form of coke on the bottom of the containers. The removal of this coke involves each time an interruption in the distilling operation, which is always accompanied by considerable loss of time and in general also by a considerable wear of the material, due to the wide temperature difierences to which it is subjected during such procedure.

Processes for the distillation of oil-containing substances to coke are also known in which the crude oil is pumped within the distillation chamber by atomizers into the furnace or retort. In this case, also, it is necessary to stop the plant as soon as the-layer of coke has become so thick that it must be removed.

The object of the present invention is to obviate the disadvantages resulting from this interruption in the working in the processes known heretofore for-the distillation of oil-containing substances to coke, and at the same time to make it possible to carryout the distillation in a perfectly continuous operation According to the invention, the distillation of oil-containing substances,, such as crude oil 25 fuel oil, petroleum residues, petroleum earth and the like, is effected in a continuous manner by passing the treated substances in separate containers through a heating zone. This continuous distillation is carried out according to the 40 invention by introducing the containers, filled with the Oil-containing substances, in unbroken sequence, but intermittently, into a furnace which is heated on all sides, closing the furnace by means of sealing members arranged between 45 the containers, and withdrawing the containers from the furnace after distillation is completed, while simultaneously introducing other containers, in order, after removal of the coke residue and refilling with oil, to reintroduce in circuit into the furnace the containers previously withdrawn from the furnace.

The filling of the containers with the oil-containing substances may be eflected either outside or inside the furnace. If theoil intended 55 for distillation is charged into the containers within the furnace, it is advisable to charge the containers with oil until they are filled with coke residues. Thereupon, the injectionof oil is interrupted in order to withdraw the containers filled with coke from the distillation chamber 6 and to simultaneously introduce empty containers into the distillation chamber to replace those withdrawn. The oil is then injected into the empty containers in the manner just stated.

Apparatus suitable for use in carrying out the 10 present process may assume any suitable form but it preferably comprises a furnace adapted to be heated on all sides, and having its distillation chamber provided with two openings lined with frames through which travels a chain ar- 15 rangement of distillation containers with sealing members arranged between the said containers at an interval corresponding to the distance between the openings of the furnace. The said sealing members are provided with ex- 20 changeable resiliently mounted sealing elements of fireproof fabric, for example, asbestos reinforced with metal insertions.

If the filling of the containers with the oilcontaining substances is to take place outside 5 the furnace, a bridge with oil supply for filling the containers is provided in front of the furnace. If the containers are to be filled with the oil-containing substances within the furnace, an atomizer for injecting the oil is provided in 30 the distillation chamber. For hardening the coke residue, there is arranged behind the distillation chamber, in the direction of travel of the containers, a steam chamber adapted in magnitude 'to the members of the chain, and having outlet openings corresponding in size and arrangement to, and aligned with those of the furnace. l

Some forms of apparatus that may be employed to carry out my process are shown by way 40 .of example in the accompanying drawings,

wherein: Figure 1 is avlongitudinal section and Figure 2v a cross-section of a construction for carrying out my process in which the filling of thegontainers takes place in front of the furnace;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section. and Figure 4 a cross-section of another construction adapted for use in carrying out the invention, in which the filling of the'containers takes place within the furnace;

Figure 5 is alongitudinal section through a sealing member utilized in the constructions shown in Figures 1 to 4;

Figure 6 is a section along the line A-A in Fi ure Figure 7 is a section along the line 3-3 in Figure 5; 5 Figure 8 is a detail of one of the pressure rings for the sealing member, and

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through a distillation container.

In the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2,

10 I denotes the distillation chamber of a furnace l0, through which travels an endless chain arrangement 2 of cast iron containers 3. A sealing member 4 is always provided between every three containers 3. A bridge 6 with oil supply for filling the containers is provided in front of the distillation chamber I. The distillation chamber is adjoined on the other side by a steam chamber 5 for hardening the coke residue.

The distillation chamber i is provided with two opposite rectangular openings I, which are lined with frames and are so dimensioned that the containers 3 can just pass therethrough. The

steam chamber is likewise provided with an out let opening 'I of the same size and arrangement as those of the furnace.

The distillation chamber l is heated externally on all sides peripherally by means of the burners 8. The, temperature may be controlled by means of a pyrometer 9.

The distillation chamber I and the steam chamber 5 afford room for a certain number of containers 3, for example three, while at the same time the openings 1 of the distillation chamber and the steam chamber are hermetically sealed by sealing members 4.

In order to carry out the process according to the invention, the furnace l0 and the distillation chamber l are first raised to the necessary temperature by means of the burners 8. As soon as 40 the temperature is attained, the row of containers 3, which are on the bridge, are filled with the raw oil intended for the distillation and are then introduced into the distillation chamber I. The sealing members 4 remain in the openings I, thereby completely sealing the distillation chamber.

The endless chain arrangement of containers 3 is moved forward by means of a motor acting upon the pinion II and thereby upon the toothed wheel l2. The teeth of the said toothed wheel engage tooth recesses provided in the bottom of the containers and of the sealing members.

At the high temperature of the distillation chamber I, the oil in the containers immediately begins to distill first of all on the surface. The distillation process does not extend to the rest of the contents of the containers until after the walls of the containers have become sufilciently hot. There is, therefore, no boiling over and no frothing. Also no overheating of the vapours can take place.

The oil vapours are led through the suction conduit l3 to the columns l4 and thence to the condensers I5, where the .distillates are recovered in the usual manner.

In order to obviate losses through Iny leakages of the distillation chamber, the whole of the distillation plant is maintained under a vacuum below atmospheric pressure, namely of 5 to 10 millimetres of water gauge.

As soon as the volatile substances have been vaporized from the containers 3 within the distillation chamber I, the endless chain 2 is moved forward by means of the mechanism described in the foregoing by an amount such that a further ber.

row of containers, which have been filled in the meantime, are moved into the distillation chamber, while at the same time the corresponding sealing members take up a position in the openings 1. The containers leaving the furnace enter the steam chamber .5 where the coke residue is hardened and cooled by steam. There is, therefore, always a group of containers onthe bridge for filling, a second group in the distillation chamber for distillation of the oil and a third group in the steam chamber for cooling and hardening the coke.

The containers 3 leaving the steam chamber 5 carry on their bottom a layer of coke which can be readily detached in a simple manner. When these containers are tipped at the end of the chain, the coke residue is automatically discharged upon a conveyor trough l 6 and is pushed along the said trough by the containers themselves to the stacking place.

Preferably the bottom of each container is divided by several ribs in order to give the desired form to the coke.

In the construction shown in Figures 3 and 4, the filling of the containers takes place in the distillation chamber itself. For this purpose, atomizers I! are provided in the distillation cham- The liquid intended for distillation is injected into the containers by means of the said atomizers while the said containers are situated in the hot distillation chamber. The oil spray is maintained at a rate of flow below that which would cool said container to a temperature below the distilling point of said oils and the oil feed is continued until the containers are filled with coke residue. Injection is then interrupted in order to advance the full containers and to introduce a row of empty containers into the distlllation chamber.

The connection between each of the members of the endless chain of containers 3 and the sealing members 4 is effected by means of hinges which, if necessary, allow of rapid and convenient exchange of any part.

As shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the sealing members are each composed of acast iron body 19, which has cylindrical parts 21 on either end and is provided at the bottom with a tooth recess. A plurality of resilient split rings 23, on which rest rigid frames 24, are disposed about the cylindrical parts 21. The bases of the said rigid frames have a circular form, for cooperation with rings 23, while their outer sides have a square form. Sealing elements 25 of fireproof fabric,

for example packings of asbestos reinforced with metal insertions, are placed over the rigid frames 24. The external dimensions of the said sealing elements 25 are somewhat greater than the opening 1 of the distillation chamber or of the steam chamber. Owing to the resiliency of the resilient rings 23, the sealing elements are pressed firmly against the walls of the openings I through the medium of the frames 24, and tightly close the said openings. Each sealing member 4 comprises a plurality of such sealing elements, for example four on each side, that is to say eight altogether. Partitions 26, which fit tightly on the cylindrical part 21 of the cast iron body, are arranged between the sealing elements.

The sealing elements 25 with the rigid frames and the split rings are threaded from both sides on the sealing members, and are held in place by closure plates l8 or 20, which carry hinge pins and arerigidly connected by screws 2| to the cylindrical part 21 or the cast iron body I9. As

soon as a sealing element no longer seals satisfactorily, the sealing efiect of the sealing member may be restored simply by loosening the corresponding closure plate and exchanging the defective sealing element for a new sealing element.

The distillation containers 3, as shown in Figure 9, are of rectangular shape. They are provided at the bottom with a tooth recess, engaged by the teeth l2 of the supporting toothed wheel. Advantageously, the distillation containers are divided into two parts by a central partition.

I claim as my invention:

1. The process for destructively distilling liquid hydrocarbon oils, which comprises the steps of bodily introducing a quantity of said oils into a heated distillation and coking zone and simultaneously sealing said zone against fluid flow to and from the atmosphere and establishing a vacuum in said zone of approximately to millimeters below atmospheric pressure, heating said quantity of oil substantially uniformly on all of its sides while it is in said distillation zone, whereby said oils are brought up to distillation temperature without boiling over or frothing, maintaining said quantity of oils in said zone until the same have been coked, then transferring said coke to a sealed steam-filled cokecooling zone and simultaneously introducing a second quantity of said oils into said distillation and coking zone and sealing the latter against fluid transfer to said coke cooling zone.

2. The process for destructively distilling liquid hydrocarbon oils, which comprises the steps of introducing at least one open container into a heated distillation and coking zone, sealing said zone against fluid flow to and from the atmosphere, establishing a vacuum of approximately 5 to 10 millimeters below atmospheric pressure, spraying said oils into said container, heating said container substantially uniformly on all of its sides while it is in said distillation and coking zone, maintaining said oil spray at a rate of flow below that which would cool said container to a temperature below the distilling point of said oils, and for a suflicient length of time to substantially flll said container with coke, then transferring said container to a steam-filled coke cooling zone and simultaneously introducing an empty container into said distillation and coking zone and sealing the latter against fluid flow to and from said coke cooling zone and the at mosphere.

ALFRED KNUDSEN. 

